Silk production becomes poverty-stricken Dhar’s lifeline

Ravi Dhaliwal

Pathankot, July 27

The sericulture project of the Forest Department (Punjab) set up in Dhar block, one of the most underdeveloped and poverty-stricken areas of Punjab, is being regarded the first step towards mitigating the sufferings of the area’s poor inhabitants.

The project recently got a boost when the department organised a ‘mandi’ for silk traders.

Traders from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka came to purchase silk cocoons cultivated in the area.

What is Sericulture?

• Sericulture is the process of obtaining silk from silkworms
• It is gaining prominence in the country as the demand for silk far outweighs its supply
• “Silk is an indispensable part of Indian culture. Also, there is huge export potential for Indian silk products,” said an official

“645-kg cocoon was sold to the silk merchants. The financial benefits accruing out of the sale have been passed on to mulberry farmers. Next year, we hope to double the production of cocoon,” said Pathankot Divisional Forest Officer Dharamveer Dairu.

Silk production is based on simple technological initiatives and requires low initial investment.

Officials say this is a major reason for the department’s success in motivating poor and marginal farmers of the Dhar block to take up silk farming.

Conservator of Forests (North Circle) Sanjeev Tiwari said with the demand for silk products increasing, the Bengaluru-based Central Silk Board (CSB) had recently given approval to the state government to commence production.

The department selected the Dhar block due to its climatic conditions and sub-mountainous terrain, which are conducive to such an initiative, he added.

Tiwari said even as the CSB’s approval was in the pipeline, the Forest Department had already commenced mulberry plantation.

In the first phase, six villages — Durang Khad, Phangtoli, Bhadan, Samanu, Junghath and Bhabhar — have been selected.

“In the Dhar block, vast tracts of forested land can be used for sericulture activities. This will boost the income of farmers. The gestation period is low and profits are on the higher side,” he added.

Tiwari said the Forest Department was planning use a mobile phone application to interlink all silk producers of the country.

Sericulture is gaining prominence in the country as the demand for silk far outweighs its supply.

“Silk is an indispensable part of Indian culture. Also, there is huge export potential for Indian silk products,” said an official.